PRE-CLERKSHIP CURRICULUM
Pediatricians teach and interact with medical students throughout the entire 4 year curriculum. They are involved in foundational and longitudinal courses such as Medical Interviewing, Physical Exam, Ethics, and Reflective Practice. Pediatric subspecialists serve as clinical module directors and course directors within the 7 core, systems-based modules. During the preclerkship coursework, pediatric-relevant material is introduced within each module. The majority of pediatric content is introduced during the Reproduction/Endocrinology module, through didactics, online modules, small group problem-based learning. Child development is taught in an integrated manner, using a biopsychosocial approach that combines the general pediatric and psychological perspectives of development.
Four small-group sessions, precepted by pediatricians from throughout the National Capital Region, allow students to interact with pediatric scenarios that cover diverse topics such as neonatal transitions, growth disorders, and developmental delay. Pediatric trauma and resuscitation skills are addressed in the Combat Medical Skills course, highlighting the importance of basic pediatric skills to the warfighting mission. Uniformed pediatricians participate in the annual Bushmaster exercises, coaching first year medical students in their portrayal of various battlefield injuries.
FURTHER TRAINING FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS
The Military Medical Humanitarian Assistance Course (MMHAC) is a two-day course focusing on understanding the unique health environment and recognizing and managing those conditions consistently associated with high mortality among the most vulnerable populations (primarily children) in these settings: diarrhea and dehydration, malnutrition, epidemic measles, malaria, and respiratory infections.
Course scenarios focus on the role that US military medical assets would likely play as early responders to a humanitarian emergency with limited medical resources.